Guard cells in fern stomata are connected by plasmodesmata, but control cytosolic Ca2+ levels autonomously (New Phytol)
Plant Science Research WeeklyPotassium (K+) and calcium (Ca2+) ions are important for stomatal function in seed plants, however little is known about the contributions of these ions in the stomata of bryophytes and early-branching vascular plants. Voss et al. focus on how fern stomata regulate ion transport. Injection of K+ into…
A Kinesin-14 motor activates neocentromeres to promote meiotic drive in maize
Plant Science Research WeeklyMeiotic drive is essentially a subversion of meiosis such that particular regions or alleles are preferentially favored for transmission to the progeny. Abnormal chromosome 10 (Ab10) is a classic example of meiotic drive in maize that converts heterochromatic chromosomal knobs into motile ‘neocentromeres’.…
From The Scientist: Image of the day, Pseudomonas autophagy
Blog, Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: News
An image from a paper published in Plant Cell is featured as The Scientists "Image of the Day"
Image of the Day: Pseudomonas Autophagy
Researchers identify antibacterial functions of cell death in Arabidopsis when the plant is infected with Pseudomonas.
By The Scientist Staff | March 30, 2018
A…
The Origins of Protein Storage Vacuoles
Plant Physiology, Plant Physiology: On The Inside, ResearchDuring seed development, protein reserves and minerals are stored in specialized vacuoles called protein storage vacuoles (PSVs). PSVs are functionally different from the lytic vacuoles (LVs) that serve a lysosome-like role in vegetative plant tissues. Embryonic vacuole (EVs) are also present during…
Viewpoint: Cell-cell junctions: What’s their function? (New Phytol)
Plant Science Research WeeklyPlasmodesmata are contiguous cell-cell junctions that provide an avenue for intracellular (symplastic) communication between neighboring plant cells. In recent years, researchers have unravelled key aspects of plasmodesmata development and function in cell-cell signalling during a multitude of responses…
Update: Diffuse Growth of Plant Cell Walls
Blog, Plant Physiology, Plant Physiology: UpdatesBy Daniel Cosgrove
The primary wall of a growing cell is a versatile, subtle, and dynamic structure, with unique properties and functions in the life of the plant (Burton et al., 2010). When a cell grows, its wall stretches irreversibly as the cell enlarges in volume. Cells can start and stop this…
The ADAPTOR PROTEIN-3 complex mediates pollen tube growth by coordinating vacuolar targeting and organization (Plant Physiol)
Plant Science Research WeeklyAdaptor proteins (AP) are involved in sorting proteins and are able to recognize cargo and coat proteins during vesicle formation. AP-3 specifically targets protein cargoes to vacuoles. Feng et al. investigate the role of AP-3 in plant reproduction. ap-3 mutants have reduced seed set that is characterized…
Diffusible repression of cytokinin signaling produces endodermal symmetry and passage cells (Nature)
Plant Science Research WeeklyPassage cells are a subset of interspersed root endodermal cells that are unsuberized, which is thought to aid in transport because suberin inhibits transcellular transport. In Arabidopsis, suberization follows a stereotypic pattern which responds to many stress conditions, partly mediated by abscisic…
Review. Autophagy: The master of bulk and selective recycling (Annu Rev Plant Biol)
Plant Science Research WeeklyA functioning cell depends upon the appropriate production of proteins and macromolecules. The other end of the process, degradation and removal, is just as critical and just as selective. Marshall and Vierstra review autophagy (“self-eating”) in plants, connecting early work in yeast to genetic,…